A major grid upgrade has arrived in the heart of the Adirondacks.
NYSEG announced this week that it has officially energized a brand-new substation in Raquette Lake, replacing a 70-year-old facility as part of its statewide grid modernization and resiliency efforts.
“This project was designed with the community in mind,” said Jeffrey Bell, NYSEG construction manager. “It’s about reliability, safety, and preparing for the future—especially given how tough winters can be here.”
The new substation will serve roughly 1,900 customers and is equipped with remote switching technology to help crews respond more quickly to outages caused by storms or severe weather.
While the original substation sat just six feet from the roadside and next to a local school, NYSEG worked with the community to relocate the project to a more suitable site. The decommissioned station will be removed, opening up lawn space and improving safety near the school.
The project was funded through a previous rate proposal and is part of NYSEG’s broader substation resiliency program. That initiative focuses on replacing aging infrastructure across upstate New York.
State and local leaders praised the effort.
Assemblyman Robert Smullen called it a win for public safety and rural infrastructure. “After serving Raquette Lake for more than seven decades, it’s time for the original facility to retire,” he said. “This project puts the community first.”
Town of Long Lake Supervisor Clay Arsenault echoed that, thanking the Moore family and NYSEG for finding a solution that benefits both utility customers and the local school.
The Moore family donated the land where the new substation sits. “NYSEG and its contractors did a great job,” said family representative George Moore. “They stayed focused on safety, quality, and environmental impact from start to finish.”
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